Label printing and dispensing tool

ABSTRACT

A label printing and dispensing tool has a spring biased striker which is initially set and thereafter released in response to the dispensing operation to press a label of a label tape against a printing mechanism for printing such label before dispensing it from the tool.

nite States Patent lsson [151 3,656,430 1 Apr.1,1972

[54] LABEL PRINTING AND DISPENSING TOOL [72] inventor: Sture A. B.Olsson, Traneredsvagen 17 A, Vastra Frolunda, Sweden [22] Filed: Oct.10, 1969 [21] App1.No.: 865,258

[52] US. Cl ..10l/288, 156/384, 101/292 [51] Int. Cl B41j 7/70, B32b35/00, B4ij H08 [58] Field of Search ..101/292, 291, 288, 92, 95,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,254,596 6/1966 Shoup etal101/102 2,522,224 9/1950 Hedinger ..l0l/288 1,344,489 6/1920 Dodge l0 1/292 923,085 5/1909 Smith ..101/90 2,687,088 8/1954 Hennessy et al...101/297 X 3,265,553 8/1966 Kind et al. 156/277 3,440,123 4/1969Hamisch, Jr. 156/384 3,490,365 1/1970 Roche ..101/292 X 3,522,131 7/1970Sato et al 156/384 Primary ExaminerWilliam B. Penn Att0rney-Pierce,Schefiler & Parker [57] ABSTRACT A label printing and dispensing toolhas a spring biased striker which is initially set and thereafterreleased in response to the dispensing operation to press a label of alabel tape against a printing mechanism for printing such label beforedispensing it from the tool.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDA RI IHYE 3,656,430

SHEET 2 BF 3 Fig. 2

PATENTEDAFR 181972 3,656,430 sum 3 [IF 3 Fig.3

muM Q/ LABEL PRINTING AND DISPENSING TOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a label printing and dispensing toolhaving means for advancing stepwise a continuous label tape anddispensing the labels thereof one at a time, and having a printingmechanism for printing the labels prior to the dispensing.

In prior art tools of this kind the printing mechanism is combined withan inking pad and is mobile in order to be pressed against the label atthe printing thereof, the inking pad being simultaneously moved awayfrom the printing mechanism. When the printing mechanism returns afterthe printing operation has been completed the inking pad is reapplied tothe printing mechanism in order to ink its types and thus prepare thetypes for a following printing operation.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a labelprinting and dispensing tool of the kind described above, wherein theprinting of the labels is more distinct than in prior art tools of thiskind and which is easier to handle and to operate than such tools sincethe printing operation proper is not derived directly from the advancingmovement and since only very few moving members are involved in theprinting operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance therewith the invention providesa label printing and dispensing tool of the kind described, whichcomprises a magazine for a continuous label tape, means for advancingsuch tape stepwise and dispensing the labels thereof one at a time, astationary printing mechanism for printing the labels prior to thedispensing, a striker mounted for movement towards and away from saidprinting mechanism, spring means for biasing said striker towards saidprinting mechanism, means to set said striker against the action of saidspring means by said advancing movement, and means to momentarilyrelease said striker when initially set, at the end of an advancing stepto press a label against said printing mechanism thereby printing suchlabel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from the following specification whichdescribes an embodiment of the tool with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a label printing anddispensing tool in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the label printing and dispensing tool; and

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the label printing anddispensing tool, showing its functional parts.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The label printing and dispensingtool shown in the drawings comprises a casing forming a magazine 11holding a roll of label tape 12. Such tape may be of a known type andmay consist for example of a backing 12a carrying individualpressure-sensitive labels 12b which are disposed on one side of thebacking with a proper spacing of the labels. Label tape 12 passes frommagazine 11 through a slot 13 and extends from the said slot in astraight path to a folding edge 14. From the said edge backing 120extends through a passage 15 to a nip between a rubber roller 16rotatably mounted in casing 10, and a driving tape drum 17 alsorotatably mounted in casing 10, in order subsequently to be dischargedfrom the tool through a slot 18, labels 12b being separated from thebacking when the latter passes around folding edge 14.

The label tape is advanced through the tool by means of label drum 17which is connected with a ratchet wheel 19 to be rotatable as a unittherewith. Label drum 17 and ratchet wheel 19 may be formed as a unitaryelement. A tooth segment 20 is pivoted for movement about the rotationalaxis of tape drum 17 and ratchet wheel 19 independently of these twoelements and preferably on a common shaft thereof and is provided with apawl 21 to engage ratchet wheel 19 when swung counter-clockwise as seenin FIG. 3, and thereby to bring along said ratchet wheel in its motion.When segment 20 moves clockwise as seen in FIG. 3 pawl 21 will bedisengaged and will slide over the teeth of ratchet wheel 19 astationary pawl 22 engaging the ratchet wheel to prevent it fromfollowing pawl 21 as a result of frictional engagement, if any, betweenthis pawl and the teeth of ratchet wheel 19. In order to oscillatesegment 20 and consequently to rotate stepwise tape drum 17 and thus toadvance stepwise label tape 12, the tool is provided with an operatingmember formed as a trigger 23 which is pivoted to casing 10 at 24 and isbiased by means of a pressure spring 25 tending to move the triggertowards the left as seen in FIG. 3. A further tooth segment 26 ontrigger 23 is operatively engaged with segment 20, and when trigger 23is manually moved towards the right as seen in FIG. 3, segment 20 willconsequently move tape drum 17 counter-clockwise. However, the tape drumis kept stationary by means of pawl 22 when trigger 23 resumes itsinitial position under the action of biasing spring 25, with pawl 21sliding over ratchet wheel 19. The magnitude of the stroke of trigger 23and consequently the magnitude of the advancing step of the label tapeis controlled by a stationary stop 27 which will be engaged by trigger23 when manually actuated, and a stop 28 which is engaged by a shoulder29 on segment 20 when trigger 23 and segment 20 resume their initialposition. Stop 28 is ad- 3O justable and consequently determines thestroke of trigger 23 by limiting the return movement thereof under theaction of spring 25. Stop 28 can be adjusted from the outside of thetool in a curved slot centered on the rotational axis of tape drum l7and ratchet wheel 19, by means of an adjustment member 30.

In the straight path of the label tape between slot 13 and folding edge14 there is stationary mounted in the tool a printing mechanism 31 thetypes of which are adjustable from outside by means of a number ofwheels or dials 32. Beneath the printing mechanism there is provided astriker 33 formed as an arm which is pivotally mounted at 34 and thefree end of which is provided with a platen 35 arranged to be appliedagainst printing mechanism 31 in a manner to be described. Arm 33 isprovided with a pawl 36 preferably a resilient pawl which is adapted toco-operate with a stationary abutment 37 provided in casing 10 in orderto keep striker 33 slightly spaced from the printing mechanism. Striker33 may be brought to the retracted position in which it is anchored bypawl 36, by gravity when the tool is held substantially in the positionshown in the drawings. Furthermore, striker 33 is provided with a leafspring 38 on its lower side, and said leaf spring is adapted to beengaged by a cam surface 39 on segment 20 when said segment is swungcounter-clockwise as seen in FIG. 3, in order to be tensioned againststriker 33 when arrested by means of pawl 36. On segment 20 there isalso provided a releasing member formed by a projection 40 in order toactuate pawl 36 at the end of the counter-clockwise movement of segment20 so that striker 33 is released so as to be forced under the action oftensioned leaf spring 38 against printing mechanism 31 at the end of anadvancing movement produced by means of trigger 23.

An inking ribbon 41 extends from a storage reel 42 rotatably mounted incasing 10, over a driving roller 43 rotatably mounted in casing 10,between printing mechanism 31 and the label tape to a rewinding reel 44past a tensioning roller 45. Rewinding wheel 44 may be spring biased torotate for rewinding the ribbon or may be operatively connected withother driving mechanism. Also, it may be connected by frictionalengagement with the tape advancing mechanism to be rotated thereby. Thefeeding of ribbon 41 past printing mechanism 31 is controlled by meansof a roller 46 engaging roller 43 and serving to apply the labelsseparated from the label tape. Roller 46 is rotated through a smallportion of a full revolution thereof during each application. Whenstriker 33 is released platen 35 is applied by the spring force againstthe label tape, which is consequently pressed against printing mechanism31 with the inking ribbon 41 interposed therebetween. Other inkingribbon arrangements than that described having means for moving stepwisethe ribbon in response to the operation of the tool may be provided.Also, a stationary inking mechanism may be used.

When the label printing and dispensing tool described above is used,actuation of trigger 23 provides advancing of the label tape step bystep, the magnitude ofa step being dependent on the adjusted position ofstop 28. The label tape passes beneath inking ribbon 41 and the labelsare printed when they are positioned opposite printing mechanism 31. Inthat position the advancing of the label tape has just been completedand the printing takes place when pawl 36 is moved by means of releasingmember 40 out of engagement with abutment 37, so that spring 38 recentlytensioned by the cam surface 39 causes striker 33 to strike a labelpositioned opposite the printing mechanism against the types of theprinting mechanism by means of platen 35. When the labels approachapplication roller 46 at folding edge 14 during the stepwise advancing,they will be separated from the backing due to the bending of thebacking at said edge and pushed out of the tool in order to be adheredby means of application roller 46 directly onto the object to beprovided with the label. At the same time inking ribbon 41 is fedforward. The backing is discharged from the tool through slot 18.

Thus, for each movement of trigger 23 there is a predetermined movementof segment 20 and the same movement is imparted rotationally to tapedrum 17. Immediately before the trigger engages stop 27 a label isprinted in the manner described above and when the trigger subsequentlyreturns to its previous position under the action of spring 25 segment20 returns simultaneously and will be immobilized at stop 28, tape drum17 remaining stationary during such return movement. Striker 33 fallsdown by gravity and is latched by means of pawl 36. Striker 33 may bebiased by a spring considerably weaker than spring 38, towards theretracted position.

Due to the fact that stop 28 is adjustable the tool can be set forlabels of different spacing on the backing since such stop determinesthe stroke of the trigger and consequently the length ofthe advancingstep. In order that a label may be positioned opposite printingmechanism 31 during each printing operation, roller 16 may be adjustablefrom outside by means of a rotatable member 47 in order to advance thelabel tape independently of the trigger mechanism, and in casing 10there may be provided a window 48 through which it may be checked that alabel is positioned opposite printing mechanism 31 when the labelprinting and dispensing operation begins.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown and described abovebut may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A label printing and dispensing tool comprising a casing;

a magazine for a continuous label tape;

a tape feed means including a ratchet wheel, a segment and a first pawlfor advancing the tape stepwise and dispensing the labels thereof one ata time;

means including a pivoted trigger and means operatively connecting suchtrigger with the segment for manually operating the tape feed meansduring an operating stroke thereof;

first spring means for rotating the tape feed means during a returnstroke thereof;

a stationary printing mechanism for printing labels;

a striker mounted for pivotal movement towards and away from theprinting mechanism between a retracted position and an advancedposition;

second spring means for biasing the striker towards the advancedposition;

means comprising a resilient pawl and an abutment for releasablyconnecting the striker with said casing to arrest the striker in theretracted position thereof;

a cam provided on the segment and thereby operatively connected with theadvancing means for tensioning the second spring means during theoperating stroke of the tape feed means; and

means formed as a projection on the segment for actuating said pawl ofthe arresting means at the end of the operating stroke to release thestriker whereby the striker is forced towards the printing mechanism bythe tensioned second spring means to press a label against the printingmechanism for printing the label.

2. A tool as in claim 1 further comprising an adjustable stop to limitthe return movement of said driving pawl.

1. A label printing and dispensing tool comprising a casing; a magazinefor a continuous label tape; a tape feed means including a ratchetwheel, a segment and a first pawl for advancing the tape stepwise anddispensing the labels thereof one at a time; means including a pivotedtrigger and means operatively connecting such trigger with the segmentfor manually operating the tape feed means during an operating strokethereof; first spring means for rotating the tape feed means during areturn stroke thereof; a stationary printing mechanism for printinglabels; a striker mounted for pivotal movement towards and away from theprinting mechanism between a retracted position and an advancedposition; second spring means for biasing the striker towards theadvanced position; means comprising a resilient pawl and an abutment forreleasably connecting the striker with said casing to arrest the strikerin the retracted position thereof; a cam provided on the segment andthereby operatively connected with the advancing means for tensioningthe second spring means during the operating stroke of the tape feedmeans; and means formed as a projection on the segment for actuatingsaid pawl of the arresting means at the end of the operating stroke torelease the striker whereby the striker is forced towards the printingmechanism by the tensioned second spring means to press a label againstthe printing mechanism for printing the label.
 2. A tool as in claim 1further comprising an adjustable stop to limit the return movement ofsaid driving pawl.